Published 10:33 pm, Saturday, August 27, 2016

ALTON — Officials with the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois are concerned that the opening of two new Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment centers in Edwardsville could strain the area’s ability to provide childcare for workers, especially for evening, weekend and night-shift workers.

The agency, which coordinates childcare services in seven counties locally, is actively recruiting people to start in-home childcare services and trying to convince some existing facilities to expand or change hours to accommodate those workers.

The Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois is holding informational meetings in Alton and Granite City for those interested in providing home childcare.

“Our concern is we are trying to meet the needs of the new employees of Amazon,” said Elaine Rodgers, supervisor of Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois’ Child Resource and Referral Program. “We’re looking for childcare providers who would be able and willing to help those parents and employees who may need childcare in the evenings, nights and on weekends.”

In June, Amazon.com Inc. announced plans to open two fulfillment centers in Edwardsville that would create more than 1,000 full-time jobs between the two facilities.

Both facilities will be more than 700,000 square feet, where employees will pick, pack and ship items. One building will specialize in handling larger items, while the other will process smaller items.

The centers are expected to run 24/7.

Evening care is usually defined as 6 p.m. to midnight, and overnight care from midnight to 6 a.m.

After-hours childcare is offered by only a few licensed providers in Madison County. For most workers it is not an issue because a spouse, relative, grandparent or friend will look after the children. For those without those options, finding childcare can be the difference between keeping a job or not.

“The midnight to 6 a.m. is the crucial time,” said Saundra Hoover, a referral counselor and data specialist at the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois. “We really don’t have but one or two in the entire Madison County district that do after midnight. Anyone who works third shift basically has to find a friend, family or neighbor.”

Home-based childcare can be either unlicensed (serving up to three children) or licensed (up to eight). Home-based childcare facilities can only operate 18 hours per day. Childcare centers can run 24 hours per day because they have staffs.

Rodgers said there has not been “that strong of a need” for overnight and weekend childcare recently, but that might change when Amazon ramps up operations.

Shari Schweppe-Streiler, literacy and recruitment specialist for the Resource and Referral Program, said they have been reaching out to potential childcare providers.

“We have been going out in the community putting up fliers in restaurants, the library, anyplace moms might hang out,” she said, noting that she is getting ready to send information to churches about the informational meetings in Alton and Granite City.

Amazon spokesperson DeAnn Baxter replied in a Telegraph email request for comment that, “We have a variety of shift schedules and employment options at our site. However, we will not be offering childcare service at the building.”

The Alton informational meeting is set for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois’ facility at 6 Crossroads Court, Alton. Call 1-800-467-9200, ext. 124 for information or to reserve a seat. The date for the Granite City meeting has not been set.